Adapting to a New Role!
Was reading through a few publications of The Hunger Project, trying to adapt to the new place, the new people and the whole new objective my life would take on from the morning of March the 5th, 2010, when I came across certain things that made me think…think again! Trying to pen down (uh…type out!!!) my thoughts, as that’s the best I can do right now… acclimatizing myself to new surroundings begins with getting my mind attuned first… and my mind works in tandem with my hands while they write (ummm type!!). So here I go… again...!
Humanity came to exist the day women accepted to endure the excruciating pain of childbirth. Sadly, in living our daily lives, we tend to ignore this very fact.
When industrial revolution pushed women into the private sphere of life, their leadership capabilities stood questioned, debated, and relegated into the background. When it comes to entrusting women with greater responsibilities in life, we classify them as the weaker section of the society, unable to lead, and not necessarily eligible for education!
It seems to be a strange contradiction when you define the life cycle of a typical woman in rural India: as a child, you must learn to run the household properly and take care of your siblings (be responsible for them); as a young lady, you must start taking responsibilities because you will be married in a short while; as a woman, you must act responsibly because you are the person who will ensure the smooth running of your family’s lives and then, as a mother, you are the one who is solely responsible for how your child turns out to be because the men in the family have other important work to do.
But (and this is an important ‘but’) even if you are bringing up children (the future of a country), when it comes to running a country, when it comes to governance and when it comes to leadership, women aren’t responsible enough.
It’s queer to think about these things while sitting in an office surrounded by educated, smart and professional women. But that’s the reality of our country. It’s a cliché today that this country worships women as goddesses and burns them for non-payment of dowry as well. But sadly, it’s the truth.
This is not an anti-men agenda. I’m just trying to understand what the justification behind such mindsets is. When you think this way, the entire system seems funny. And that’s exactly what I’m thinking right now. How funny!
Couldn’t complete this piece in a day… today’s the 8th of March, yeah, Women’s’ Day… again do we need a separate day to celebrate the phenomenon of womanhood… rather, let me put it this way… is one day enough to celebrate all that womanhood stands for?
Sounds so clichéd doesn’t it? It does, because it is… so clichéd and yet unchanged!
This system challenges my thought process…my individuality rather… and I’m looking forward to taking this challenge head on… looking forward to use my words to make a difference. The course of my life has changed yet again…this time, I’m sure it’s for the better.
Comments
I would like to provide a possible explanation to the questions raised here.
1. Historical Influence...
Our historical influence or past has a role in the present. The Present is the result of a past influence.
If you see the historical job profiles till a century ago...war supply--soldiers, agriculture, hunting, fishing, exploration, etc., there were no corporates, no modern day job roles, our forefathers decided on keeping the female species away from these hazardous job roles as they provide for the continuity of human race in a greater way. Now this is stereotyped in people(modern men) that women can't participate in job roles, which is like a bad influence of a misunderstood "historical practice" to keep the women safe.
2. Liberalization comes with time. It is a long process, women are slowly but steadily gaining the front foot. It is a time dependent procedure of society.
We as Indians have accepted Indira Gandhi a long time back, Presently Pratibha, Sonia & Meera are ruling India,
Look at US they have never accepted a woman or lady as their head of the state ever, with the margin Hillary lost to Obama in pre election procedures, it is an established fact they can diminish racism against a women becoming head of state.
Ask people who have been to abroad for longer period of time.....the female species in that part of globe is recognized as a object of desire if not more. India is different, here a responsible man is with his woman for extended period of time.
p.s. Males/females who take part in domestic violence, dowry practices etc., are not sound individuals. do not consider them as homo sapiens, they are rather a contagious disease of society, these people need psychological help.